Ocarina



Jan. 31, 1939. G. A. MAUSOLF OCARINA Filed June 30, 1938 INVENTOR GwgeAMdusnlf.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 31, 1939 OCARINA George A. Mauaolf, Waterbury, onn., asslgnor to The Waterbury Button Company, Waterbury,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 30, 1938, Serial No. 216,711

3 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly to an improvement in an ocarina.

One object of the present invention is to provide an ocarina constructed of two perforated molded halves tightly sealed together at their abutting edges and which are preferably made from a plastic molding compound such as Bakelite, cellulose acetate, etc.

Another object is to provide an ocarina in which the mouthpiece thereof has a semi-circular interior air passage bounded by a circular groove in one molded half, and a flat metal strip inserted between both halves of said mouthpiece.

Other objects include the provision of a flange or rib on the edge of one of the halves adapted to interfit with a smooth edge on the other half; the provision of means to lock the metal insert in position between the halves; and the provision of locating posts and a groove to maintain the metal insert in proper position in respect to a main outlet opening in one of said halves whereby musical notes may be produced when air is blown through the semi-circular passage of the mouthpiece.

A further object is to provide an ocarina of the above nature which will be simpl in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, readily manipulated, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very eflicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view there has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ocarina embodying the principles and features of this invention, and indicating in dotted lines the playing position of the users fingers.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 through the mouthpiece.

Fig. 3 is an inside plan view of one of the halves of the ocarina.

Fig. 4 is an inside plan view of the other half of the ocarina.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the mouthpiece, taken on the line Ii-5 of Fig. 2 at rightangles to the metal insert.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the ocarina.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral I0 designates the top molded half and the numeral II designates the bottom half of the improved ocarina. The top hall III is provided with a mouthpiece portion I2, and an oval shaped body portion having a plurality of finger openings I3, ll, I5, I8, II, I8, I9 and 20 adapted to be covered by the fingers of both hands, as shown in Fig. 1. These openings may be labeled with suitable indicia such as the words shown in Fig. 6 to indicate which musical note will be produced when any particular opening and those preceding it are uncovered as in the usual ocarina. When all of the openings I3-20 are covered, the musical note C or do will be produced when the player blows into the mouthpiece. When the opening I3 is uncovered the note D or re, will be produced, and by additionally uncovering the opening I4 an E note, or mi, will be produced, etc. The curved wall of the top half III and its mouthpiece portion I2 terminates in a flat smooth edge 2I which is adapted to interfit with a flanged edge 22, formed on the bottom half I I.

The lower half II has a mouthpiece portion 23 for cooperating with the portion I2 on the top half III. The body of the lower half I I has a pair of thumb openings 24 and 25 and a central main opening 26 formed therein, and the flanged edge 22 of said half is provided with aninterior rib 21, which is adapted to fit within the unflanged edge 2| of the top half I0 to position the two halves I0 and I I with respect to each other so that when the ocarina is assembled, the respective edges 2I and 22 will be in tight abutment.

In order to form a semi-circular air passage in the mouthpiece portion 23 of the bottom half II, said half I I is provided with a pair of spaced cylindrical insert-holding posts 28 and 29, disposed on opposite sides of the main opening 26 (as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5). The mouthpiece portion 23 has an elongated tapered groove 30, semicircular in cross-section, which extends throughout its length and terminates just short of the outlet opening 26-preferably flattening out somewhat as it approaches said opening 26.

Provision is also made at the sides of said tapered groove 20 of a pair of guide slots ll and 32, to provide seating shoulders 33 and 34 for the side edge of a metal insert strip 35 which is adapted to be maintained thereby in a predetermined spaced relationship in respect to the groove '30 forming therewith a substantially semi-circular air passage.

The comers at the inner end of the insert strip are adapted to seat in notches 36 and 31 provided therefor in the posts 28 and 29 respectively. The outer end of the strip 35 is reduced in width and is adapted to seat in a notch 88 provided in the wall 2| oi the mouthpiece portion l2 of the top half It.

By means of this construction, it will be noted that when the halves l0 and II are assembled, the insert strip 35 will be securely locked in place, being properly located in respect to the main outlet opening 26 by the posts 28 and 29, and held against outward movement by the notched end 38 of the top mouthpiece portion l2.

Before assembling the two halves l0 and II of the ocarina, the edges 2| and 22 thereof will preferably be coated with a suitable cement so that a tightly sealed joint will be formed therebetweerf, when the halves are pressed together.

One advantage of the improved ocarina herein disclosed is that it is very light in weight, may be made of colored molded material requiring no enamel, paint or other exterior finish, and will have a smooth non-chippable exterior surface.

While there has been disclosed in this specication one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In an ocarina, a pair of complementary hollow sections, each having a flat peripheral edge shaped to abut against each other, one of said sections having an interior rib to interfit within the edge of the other section, said sections having alined interfltting portions extending therefrom to form a mouthpiece, one of said sections having a central main outlet opening in alinement with and at the inner end of said mouthpiece, a flat partition in said mouthpiece, one side of said partition forming an air blowing passage.

2. In an ocarina, a pair of complementary pertorated hollow sections, each having a flat edge about its periphery shaped to abut against each other and cemented together, said sections having complementary alined lnterfltting projecting portions to form a mouthpiece, one of said sections having a central main outlet opening located adjacent the inner end of said mouthpiece, a flat strip of metal in said mouthpiece forming one side of an air blowing passage, the outer ends of said mouthpiece sections engaging said metal strip to hold it in position in said mouthpiece.

3. In an ocarina, a pair of complementary oval shaped hollow sections having tightly sealed edges, a mouthpiece comprising complementary alined projections on said sections, one of said projections having a mouthpiece which is provided with an inwardly tapered air passage, said passage being substantially semi-circular in cross-section and leading to the interior of said instrument, a flat partition covering one side of said passage and held between said hollow sections, and a pair of upstanding notched posts at the inner end of said tapered passage for cooperating with said mouthpiece sections ior holding said partition in position.

GEORGE A. MAUSOLE. 

